Homecoming season is upon us and there’s quite literally nothing like it on the planet. The gatherings, the parties, the greek life, the tailgates, the camaraderie of seeing people you went to a Historically Black College & University with is fall’s greatest thrill.
After graduating from Winston Salem State University in 2009, I have frequented many Homecoming celebrations at my alma mater, and I’m always impressed by how much things have changed and loving what’s stayed the same over the years.
While the campus or “the yard” has underwent modern beautifications, it still has the same charm that it maintained while I was a young Psychology major trying to find my way.
Homecoming is about reconnecting
Homecoming is about reconnecting with the past, enjoying the present, and planning for the future. Students, past and present, are able to network in close proximity with one another in an exchange of ideas and entrepreneurship.
As a lifelong writer, I’ve published four books to date, three of which I’ve sold during Homecoming as a vendor. I was able to meet so many new people who were interested in my topics and wanted to support a young up and coming Black writer.
The sales pitches I would normally have to sell to an unknown buyer were dismissed to my homecoming audience as they saw me as family, or “Ramily” as the WSSU Rams call each other.
The ability to sell my books to a Black audience about issues that affected Black people gave me not only a monetary boost, but it instilled a level of confidence in me that only people who truly believed in me could do.
Homecoming is a vibe
When you’re at Homecoming, everyone is in the mood to see you thrive as they seek to thrive themselves.
It’s a place where you can be yourself, you can dress how you like, and talk without code-switching, something many of us can’t do in our 9-5 jobs. At Homecoming, you’re welcomed for being just who you are.
It’s a celebration and recognition of Black excellence that exists on HBCU campuses across the country, but especially down South. Most HBCU’s are located in Southern states and our proud culture is mirrored in the surrounding music, fashion, and food.
People wait all year for Homecoming. They plan years ahead, book hotel rooms, and provide an economic boom for their respective cities. Alumni return to campus to celebrate life, love, and learning.
HBCU’s need protection
HBCU’s are a special place that deserve to be protected, as they are frequently under attack by way of physical violence amid political tensions.
Homecoming’s are also a time of giving back. Charitable contributions are made that support Black businesses and communities to flourish and gain sustainable recognition.
Homecoming is about football, too. From legendary tailgates to the marching bands halftime show, there is so much fun to be had that has nothing to do with the actual game being played.
It’s a place for Black people to be seen in a world that often refuses to recognize our brilliance, beauty, and bravery. You’re celebrated and your achievements are known to a group of people whose validation means more than any other.
Though I am partial to my WSSU Rams, Homecoming at any HBCU is an unflinching cultural experience that is food to the soul and an escape from the usual drudgery most alumni face day to day.
It is a festivity that only gets better with time. Here’s to a happy, safe, and prosperous Homecoming 2025.